Abstract:

A blood testing apparatus includes a device for withdrawing blood, a
membrane-type testing element, an evaluating device, and a display device
forming a complete system which can be manipulated as a single piece of
apparatus. Multiple testing elements can be inserted into the apparatus
and brought successively to a work position for carrying out several
measurements. The blood withdrawing device includes multiple pricking
elements. One pricking element is pushed through one testing element and
pricks the surface of the skin of a user. The pricking position is
disposed so that blood withdrawn from the surface of the skin can impinge
upon a testing element.

Claims:

1. A blood testing apparatus, comprising:a test membera laser source
configured to produce a wound from which blood flows;electronics for
analysis, anda display, wherein the test member, laser source,
electronics and display form a glucose monitoring system that is
integrated in a single apparatus,

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test member includes an opening
from which a beam from the laser can pass through.

3. A blood testing apparatus, comprising:a plurality of test members;a
laser source configured to produce a wound from which blood
flows;electronics for analysis, anda display, wherein the plurality of
test members, laser source, electronics and display form a glucose
monitoring system that is integrated in a single apparatus,

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of test members are
arranged radially around an axis of rotation of a rotatable, disposable
device having a circumferential wall section that runs cylindrically on
an outer periphery, each of the test member and the at least one lancing
element having a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular
relative to the axis of rotation, and wherein the test members are
disposed with surfaces normal in a radial direction with respect to a
center of the rotatable, disposable device

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of a test member includes an
opening from which a beam from the laser can pass through.

6. A method for testing an analyte in a blood sample, comprising:providing
a blood testing apparatus that includes a test member, a laser source,
electronics for analysis and a display that are integrated in a single
apparatus;producing a wound with the laser;receiving a blood sample from
the wound of the test member; andusing the electronics to determine a
concentration of glucose in the blood sample.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a plurality of test members are
provided.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/432,061,
filed May 19, 2003, which is a §3.71 of PCT/EP01/13514 filed Jan.
21, 2001, which is the PCT of DE 100 57 832.2 filed Nov. 21, 2000, all of
which applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002]The invention relates to a blood testing apparatus for determining
an analyte, such as fructosamine, lactate, cholesterol, specifically
glucose, from minimal quantities amounts of blood extracted immediately
prior from a ser.

[0003]The invention deals with blood testing apparatus of the kind that
are configured with a membrane-like test means defining a field of
measurement, said test means being wetted with the minimal amount of
blood extracted and including test reagents, having an evaluation device
comprising electronics working optically, preferably using reflectance
analysis, or electronically and having a display device, where the
aforementioned components form a complete system which can be manipulated
as a single apparatus.

[0004]A diagnostic apparatus of this type is known from U.S. Pat. No.
4,787,398. This blood glucose monitoring apparatus comprises a housing
structure with a push-rod arrangement to actuate a lancing element and
having an evaluation device and a display device. For each measurement, a
replaceable unit must be positioned in the housing structure, comprising
the lancet and a test means to be wetted with blood in the form of a test
strip. This replaceable unit is discarded after each use.

[0005]Using this as the point of departure, the object of the present
invention is to further develop a blood testing apparatus which has fewer
components to be manipulated individually and is thus easier to operate
and more user friendly.

[0006]A blood testing apparatus known from EP 0 449 525 Al similarly
comprises an integral release device for a lancing element. Before each
use, a new lancing element has to be manually inserted into the release
device as part of the blood extraction device and then a test strip has
to be inserted into the apparatus.

[0007]U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,445 shows a complete system for a glucose
measuring apparatus in the aforesaid sense. But before each measurement a
new replaceable unit of lancing element and test means has to be
assembled to a body and removed afterwards.

[0008]U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,492 shows a similar device. According to this
publication, a disposable unit comprises a capillary tube on the upper
end of which a test strip is provided which is exposed to the minimal
quantity of blood extracted. The capillary tube is configured at its
lower end with a lancing element. Again, before and after each
measurement a new disposable unit of the type just described must be
installed or removed. According to a further embodiment, a transverse
slot is provided in the area of the face of the apparatus facing the
user, through which a porous test membrane with a carrier can be
inserted, which is then penetrated by the lancing element in the lancing
procedure.

[0009]According to one embodiment, U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,941 shows a
complete system in the aforesaid sense, where a cartridge with unused
strip-like test means is inserted into a housing and a suitable test
means can then brought into a suitable operating position by means of a
driver. Through a triggering device, which forms part of the blood
extraction device, a lancet contained in a suitable test strip is urged
outward by mean of a pushrod to pierce the surface of the user's skin so
that capillary blood can be obtained for analysis. More detailed
information on how the analysis is performed cannot be obtained from this
publication. According to a further embodiment described in this
publication, a cylindrical disposable attachment or insert is described
which has a lancet and a tablet-shaped test membrane with an opening for
the lancing device. This attachment or insert is then inserted into a
recess of a pushrod arrangement which forces the lancing element outward
to extract blood. Once again, before and after each test procedure the
disposable unit must be installed or removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010]The object, explained at the beginning, to create a user-friendly
improvement of a blood testing apparatus of this type which ensures a
safe supply of blood for the test means with the smallest possible
quantity of blood, is achieved wider the invention through a plurality of
test means which can be inserted into the apparatus and brought into an
operating position to perform several measurements in succession where
they can interact with the evaluation device, through the blood
extraction device similarly having a plurality of lancets, and when a
suitable test means is positioned in the operating position, a lancet can
be thrust through the test means and can pierce the surface of the user's
skin which is positioned in a lancing position aligned with the operation
position so that blood emanating from the skin can impinge directly on
the test means.

[0011]Under the invention, installation or removal before and after each
test, measurement or analysis procedure is to be avoided. For this
reason, a plurality of test means and preferably a number of lancing
elements corresponding exactly to number of test means is furnished in
the blood testing apparatus, which can be brought into the operating
position in succession and then interact with the blood extraction device
when it is actuated or released. A lancing element located in the
operating position is driven through the membrane-like test means and
pierces the surface of a user's skin, so that the minimal quantity of
blood obtained directly wets the membrane-like test means without having
to penetrate capillary tubes or slots, which in turn require quantities
of blood. Any number of switching and driving means powered mechanically
or by an electric motor are conceivable to move the test or lancing means
to the operating position and to actuate the lancing means. The number of
test means, which are preferably handled as a unit, and advantageously of
the lancing means as well, is preferably 5 to 75, and specifically 14-28.
The numbers 14 and 28 correspond to a 2 or 4-week rhythm if one analysis
is made per day.

[0012]After the evaluation and display of the result of the analysis, or
of the blood glucose level, the specific test means is moved from its
operating position and the next succeeding test means is brought into the
operation position preferably immediately.

[0013]The lancing element could be withdrawn from the test means again
before this process. It proves to be advantageous if the lancing element
remains in the test means following the lancing procedure and can be
removed with it from the operating, position to position a new test
means. The lancing element can also be retracted far enough so that it
does not project beyond a finger rest area in the apparatus. However,
this is not absolutely necessary.

[0014]In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, it is
conceivable that the lancing element is connected to the membrane-like
test means before the lancing procedure and can be inserted with it into
the apparatus and moved to the operating position The lancing element can
already be inserted into the test means or be stuck through it.

[0015]Following a lancing and measurement procedure, spent lancing
elements and test means can be ejected individually or together, or they
can be taken to a storage and disposal position.

[0016]In a further aspect of the invention, the test means are disposed on
a carrier which is movable, preferably rotatable, with respect to a
housing base and inserted with the carrier into the housing base of the
apparatus. The test means can then be brought in succession to the
operating position by rotating the carrier or moved from the operating
position to a storage and disposal position.

[0017]The test means are advantageously so disposed on the carrier that
their specific surface normal runs in a radial direction with respect to
the rotatable carrier. Furthermore, the carrier preferably has an annular
configuration and is carried rotatably about the center of the ring.

[0018]Protection against dirt, contamination and the effects of humidity
is preferably provided. The carrier can be configured advantageously as a
closed cartridge. The carrier can then have apertures which can be closed
or withdrawn in the manner of a window or diaphragm to interact with the
drive mechanism and allow the lancing element to extend to perform the
lancing procedure or allow blood to reach the test means. As further
protection, particularly against humidity, the test means can
alternatively or additionally be encased in foil covers which can be
removed in the operating position.

[0019]The blood extraction device is advantageously housed inside the
annulus with the several lancing elements. It is conceivable that a
release device, which is known in the art and described in the
aforementioned publications, is housed within the annulus. For example, a
pushrod-like driver arrangement is implemented, which operates on the
side of a lancing element away from the body when located in the
operating position such that the lancing element pierces the skin surface
of a user. It would also be conceivable that a specific lancing element
in the operating position is held in a wedging arrangement between the
opposably movable jaws of the driving organ, so that by moving the
driving organ forward and back the lancing element can be extended to the
outside of the apparatus and retracted again. In any case, the drive unit
of the blood extraction device, which thrusts a specific lancing element
through the membrane-like test means into the skin surface of a user,
forms a part of the housing or base apparatus as does the evaluation and
display device The membrane-like test means and the lancing elements, on
the other hand, represent disposable elements which are inserted in a
predetermined configuration, such as being located on a carrier, into the
housing base.

[0020]It proves furthermore to be advantageous if, as already mentioned,
the lancing, elements, on a rotatable carrier, preferably on the same
carrier as the test means, are inserted into the blood testing apparatus.
By rotating the carrier or carriers, a specific lancing element is
similarly brought into the operating position, namely into a position
where it is struck by the driving organ of the blood extraction device or
is gripped in a wedging arrangement and can be moved suddenly to perform
the lancing procedure.

[0021]It proves to be of overall advantage if the blood testing apparatus
has a basically circular disc-shaped outer contour, as it can thus be
gripped and held comfortably in the user's hands.

[0022]In a further aspect of this inventive idea, the apparatus has
oppositely located a lancing position for positioning the skin surface to
be pierced and a release position o trigger the lancing procedure by
manually actuating a release button.

[0023]The apparatus is advantageously held by a user holding the apparatus
with two fingers at the lancing position and at the release button. The
release button has an advantageous ergonomic shape for grasping by the
thumb of a user. It preferably has a pressure point which must be
overcome in order to initiate the lancing operation. For safety reasons,
it proves to be advantageous if the lancing operation can only initiated
when both fingers have taken up their correct position. This could be
implemented through contact sensors or through a pressure point
mechanism.

[0024]It must be pointed out that instead of a needle or lancet-shaped
lancing element, which is moved preferably suddenly in the direction of
the skin surface of a user to perform the lancing procedure in a manner
known in the art, for example, by releasing a spring-tensioned driving
device, a laser beam can also be used. The required source of laser light
is among the non-disposable system components of the blood testing
apparatus. With this solution as well, a specific test means can be
furnished with an opening through the laser beam can pass.

[0025]In accordance with a further inventive aspect, the blood testing
apparatus can be configured in the style of a wrist watch, that is to say
it can have a housing base modeled after a wrist watch casing. A viewing
side of the blood testing apparatus can then have a face as with a
familiar watch, or a digital display. The digital display can be
configured to display time and/or additional functions and to display
data or information gathered by the blood testing apparatus as needed.

[0026]It can prove further advantageous if the blood testing apparatus has
a removable, preferably upwardly pivotable, cover which has access to the
interior of the blood testing apparatus, specifically to insert or
replace the carrier for the test means and/or lancing elements. In the
design of the external appearance of the blood testing apparatus in the
style of a wrist watch, or even in the style of a pocket watch, it can
prove advantageous if the removable or upwardly pivotable cover
simultaneously comprises the face or some other time display device which
is raised or pivoted upward with the cover.

[0027]In accordance with another inventive aspect, the cover when opened
can reveal a view of a display device in the blood testing apparatus,
which can be located either on the inward facing side of the raised cover
or is revealed by the removal or upward pivoting of the cover. It can
further prove to advantageous if a second removable or upwardly pivotable
cover is furnished under the first removable or upwardly pivotable cover,
which second cover permits or closes off access to the interior of the
blood testing apparatus. This second cover could then contain the display
device for the blood testing apparatus on its outer side, which can serve
simultaneously as a time display. To read the data and information
gathered by the blood testing apparatus, the first cover is opened so
that a user can view the display device on the exposed viewing side of
the second cover, or on the inner side of the first cover. The second
cover is opened only to replace the test means or lancing elements.

[0028]In an aspect of the blood testing apparatus in the style of a wrist
watch casing, it proves advantageous if a finger rest is furnished at the
"6 o'clock" or "12 o'clock" position to perform the lancing process to
draw a minimal amount of blood, or in the respective areas where the
watch strap attaches. This permits convenient operability, which also has
a positive effect on good wetting function, since the particular test
means (when the test means are arranged essentially perpendicular to the
radial direction) is aligned horizontally when the blood is extracted,
which promotes even wetting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029]Additional features, details and advantages of the invention can be
found in the appended claims and the drawing and the description to
follow of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0030]In the drawing:

[0031]FIG. 1 shows a schematic arrangement of a first aspect of a blood
testing apparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0036]FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of a third aspect of a blood testing
apparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0037]FIG. 7 shows an isometric view of the blood testing apparatus from
FIG. 6 with the first cover raised;

[0038]FIG. 8 shows an isometric view of the blood testing apparatus from
FIG. 7 with the first and second covers raised and

[0039]FIG. 9 shows an isometric view corresponding to FIG. 8 of a fourth
aspect of the blood testing apparatus in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a schematic view of a blood testing system in
accordance with the invention, where FIG. 1 represents a view into the
interior with the cover removed and FIG. 2 represents a schematic
sectional view. The blood testing apparatus in the form of a blood
glucose measuring apparatus, identified as a whole with the reference
numeral 2, comprises a housing base 4 and a removable cover 6. A blood
extraction device 8 with a drive mechanism 10 and a lancing element in
the form of a needle is accommodated in the interior of the housing base
4. The blood extraction device 8 interacts with a release button 14 on
the narrow outer side of the disc-shaped housing base 4. The drive
mechanism comprises a driving spring, and a return spring 16, 18, both of
which are indicated only schematically. Through mechanical coupling and
control means 20, pressing the release button 14 and overcoming a
pressure point mechanism 22 releases the drive mechanism 10, so that
under the pre-load of the driving spring 16 a plunger 24 moves radially
outward at speed, wedging the lancing element 12 between jaws 26 and
driving it radially outward and immediately afterward retracting it again
slightly under the effect of the return spring 18. The lancing element 12
penetrates forward briefly across the finger rest 28 lying radially
opposite the release button on the outside of the housing base 4, which
defines a lancing position, and briefly pierces the skin surface of a
user with predetermined speed and depth of penetration to allow a minimal
quantity of blood to escape.

[0041]As the lancing element 12 moves outward at speed, a membrane-like
test means 30, which is located in a manner to be described in greater
detail in the immediate vicinity behind the finger rest 28, is penetrated
by the lancing element 12. The blood emanating from the skin surface then
directly wets the outwardly facing surface of the membrane-like test
means 30, which is furnished with reagents.

[0042]As can be seen from the Figures, a plurality of test means 30 is
furnished with the lancing elements allocated to each of the test means
30. The test means 30 and the lancing elements 12 are located on an
annular carrier 32, for example, eight or ten pairs of test means 30 and
lancing elements 12 are located around the circumference or partial
circumference of the annular carrier 32. With the cover 6 removed, the
carrier 32 can be inserted into a locating device 34 of complementary
shape which can be rotated around the center of the ring. Embodiments
would also be conceivable in which the cover 6 does not need to be
removed in order to insert the carrier 32, but which have a recess open
to the top to insert a cassette-type closed carrier 32. This provides
protection against dirt, contamination and the effects of humidity. The
carrier 32 can have available apertures which can be closed and withdrawn
like a window or diaphragm in order to interact with the drive mechanism
and allow the lancing means to extend to the outside to perform the
lancing procedure or to allow blood to reach the test means. As further
protection, specifically against humidity, the test means could
alternatively or additionally be covered with foil wrappers which can be
removed in the operating position.

[0043]As can be seen from the Figures, the membrane-like test means 30 are
disposed such that they are disposed with their surface normal in the
radial direction with respect to the center of the ring. By actuating a
sliding button 36 on the outside of the housing base 4, the locating
device 34, and with it the carrier 32 positioned in it and held
frictionally in place, are rotated into a discrete further angular
position, so that the pairs of test means 30 and lancing elements 12 are
brought in succession into an operating position in which the lancing
element 12 can interact with the drive mechanism 10. In this way the
blood glucose measuring apparatus is prepared by insertion of the
preferably cassette-type carrier 32 with a number, for example, of ten
test means 30 and lancing elements 12 for ten measurements. Following a
measurement, the button 36 only has to be actuated to bring the next pair
of test means 30 and lancing element 12 into the operating position.
Additional installation and removal steps before and after a particular
measuring procedure are not required. Spent test means 30 and test
elements are brought in a clockwise direction with the carrier 32 to a
storage or disposal position, which follows the operating position. It
would also be conceivable to furnish an ejection mechanism which ejects a
particular spent pair for disposal, which is regarded as less preferred
since proper disposal must take place immediately. The protected
arrangement of the spent pairs inside the cassette-type carrier 32 is
preferred instead. After the predetermined number of tests are performed,
the cassette-type-like carrier 32 is removed and disposed of and replaced
with a new one.

[0044]Because the lancing element 12 penetrates the membrane-like test
means 30 in the lancing process, preferably in its center, the test means
30 is ensured of being positioned in immediate proximity to the point of
penetration on the skin surface of the user. The blood emanating there is
immediately and, most importantly, evenly deposited on the test area of
the test means 30, even when only small quantities of blood are
available.

[0045]In the aspect shown, the lancing elements 12 are disposed on the
carrier 32 such that they perforate the center of the test means 30 when
the drive mechanism 10 acts against them. To achieve this, it can prove
to be advantageous if the lancing elements 12 are disposed in such a way
on the carrier 12 that the point has penetrated into the accompanying
test means 30, at least partially in the direction of their thickness.
This acts as an aid to positioning. A continuous guide opening can also
be furnished in the test means 30. The diameter of the guide opening
should preferably be smaller than the outside diameter of the lancing
element 12 to prevent blood from penetrating through a gap between the
outer surface of the lancing element 12 and the guide opening toward the
back side of the test means 30.

[0046]An evaluation device 38 known in the art is also furnished in the
interior of the glucose measuring apparatus. An optical, preferably
reflectance analysis init, is indicated schematically in FIG. 2. The
evaluation device 38 can comprise a light source 40 and a sensor 42 for
the reflectance measurement of the change of color of the back side of
the membrane-like test means 30, where the analysis reaction 38 of the
glucose contained in the blood sample with the test or proof reagents
takes place (enzymatic redox reaction). The principles of an optical
analysis device are described, for example, in EP-A-0 654 659 and EP-A-0
475 692.

[0047]In the case where the electrochemical measurement principle is
applied, the optical evaluation device is dispensed with. The enzymatic
redox reaction is quantified instead through the detection of electrical
current or voltage at an electrode (described, for example, in EP-A-0 552
223).

[0048]The evaluation device 38 comprises in a known way electronics for
analysis which interact with a display device 44 which indicates, for
example, in the form of an LCD display the test result, perhaps the blood
glucose content. By means of the evaluation device, additional evaluation
and display functions and comparisons with previously stored measurement
or evaluation data could be performed, saved if necessary and their
result displayed.

[0049]The blood testing apparatus under the invention thus represents a
complete system which does not require the separate manipulation of test
strips or lancets during the blood glucose measurement. By inserting the
cassette-type carrier 32 with test means 30 and lancing elements 12, the
apparatus is prepared for a specific number of measurements, for which no
additional installation or removal steps or the separate manipulation of
additional aids is required.

[0050]FIGS. 3 to 5 show a second aspect of the blood testing apparatus
under the invention, where components identical to the first aspect are
identified with the same reference numeral. In accordance with this
aspect, the blood testing apparatus has a housing base 4 modeled after or
approximating the basic shape of a wrist watch casing, where the
dimensions, specifically the depth of the housing base 4, can be enlarged
compared with traditional wrist watch casings. Further indicated are
installation areas 45 for a specifically flexible pin of a normal watch
strap. A dome-shaped centering means 46 is depicted in the interior of
the housing base 4, which appears cuboid in plan view but which has two
segmental side sections 48 which are configured concentric to an axis of
rotation 50 and provide a positioning aid when inserting a carrier 32 for
test means 30 and lancing elements 12. Further, a servo motor 52 (not
shown in detail) is housed in the centering means 46.

[0051]The servo motor 52 can serve to move the carrier 32 to move a spent
test means 30 from an operating position to a disposal position and
simultaneously to position a still unused test means 30 in the operating
position. It is not entirely excluded that the servo motor 52 can also
serve to power the only schematically represented drive mechanism 10. The
drive coupling of the servo motor 52 with the carrier 32 could, for
example, be formed through a pinion gear, crown wheel, bevel gear or
miter gear connection between a rotatingly driven wheel of the servo
motor 52 and correspondingly configured, specifically sprocket-shaped
matching gear means or the carrier 32.

[0052]As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the carrier 32 is configured in the shape
of an annular disc-shaped cassette 54. The cassette comprises a lower
housing section 56 with an annular disc-shaped floor section 58 with a
circular access opening 60 and with circumferential wall section 62
running cylindrically on the outer periphery. The test means 30 are
furnished in appropriate recesses 64 in the circumferential wall section
62 in a concentric arrangement around the axis of rotation 50. A
similarly shaped upper housing section 68, which comprises a number of
radially aligned lancing elements 12 corresponding to the number of test
means 30, can be inserted into the lower housing section 56. Spring means
69 can also be seen, specifically in the form of closed loops, which hold
the lancing elements 12. When the skin surface of a user is pierced,
these spring elements 69 are tensioned and are able to retract the
particular lancing element 12 again following the penetration through the
drive mechanism 10. This arrangement of lancing elements 12 is located
radially outside the aforementioned opening 60 and thus radially outside
the dome-shaped centering means 46, which simultaneously comprises the
drive mechanism 10 which is disposed radially inside the arrangement of
lancing elements 12. The lower housing section 56 and the upper housing
section 68 inserted into it are joined together so that they cannot turn
and can be rotated in common as a carrier 32 around the axis 50 to bring
test means 30 and lancing elements 12 into the operating position, or
shift them from the operating position to a disposal position.

[0053]The button 36 schematically represented in FIG. 3 is linked to the
drive mechanism 10 to actuate it. The control rod 66 suggested there
running radially runs either above or below the carrier 32. As mentioned,
the actuation of the drive mechanism 10 could also be achieved with a
motor, preferably electrically controlled.

[0054]Finally the blood testing apparatus comprises a cover 6 which can be
modeled after the face of an electronic watch and can have a display
device 44, for example, in the form of an LCD display. This cover then
forms the viewing side of the blood testing apparatus, as can be seen
from FIG. 5.

[0055]FIG. 6 shows an isometric view corresponding to FIG. 5 of a blood
testing apparatus with a watch face 68 on the viewing side of a pivotally
articulated cover 6. It should also be mentioned that a finger rest 28 is
furnished at the "6 o'clock" position with reference to the face 68,
which forms the operating position in which the skin surface is briefly
penetrated by the lancing element 12 when the drive mechanism 10 is
released. This arrangement proves to be advantageous insofar as the user
(standing) can place the hand on the stomach when performing the lancing
procedure and then position the thumb of the other hand on the finger
rest 28. When the lancing process is triggered in this position, the
membrane-like test means 30 is disposed essentially horizontally and the
minimal amount of blood can wet the test means following gravity.

[0056]FIG. 7 shows the blood testing apparatus from FIG. 6 with the first
cover 6 pivoted up so that the view of the upper side of a second cover 7
is uncovered where, in accordance with this embodiment, the display
device 44 for the blood testing apparatus is located. The display device
44 for the blood testing apparatus is thus separated spatially from the
face 68 or the display unit for time. Naturally, the display device 44
could also serve to display time.

[0057]FIG. 8 shows the blood testing apparatus from FIG. 7 with the second
cover 70 likewise raised so that access to the housing base 4 for
inserting and removing a carrier cartridge is possible.

[0058]Finally, FIG. 9 shows an isometric view corresponding to FIG. 8 of a
further embodiment, according to which the display device 44 for blood
analysis is furnished on the inner side of the first cover 6.